(Newser)
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Former Florida House speaker and GOP Senate candidate Marco Rubio will deliver today’s Conservative Political Action Conference keynote speech in what one activist calls his “national coming out for conservatives.” Though there is a lot of buzz around him following his challenge to Charlie Crist, the moderate governor of Florida, he’s little known outside the state. That’s about to change, his campaign hopes.

“This is the most anticipated speech there because most conservatives haven’t had a chance to see him in the flesh,” another activist tells Politico. Rubio’s campaign has taken advantage of the anticipation by scheduling numerous fundraising events surrounding his appearance at CPAC, and hope the event itself will raise his profile. After all, Ronald Reagan had the same position at the first CPAC in 1973. His appearance also signals a change in the political winds, a strategist notes. “I don’t remember a time when CPAC reached out so aggressively outside of Washington.”